22 JUKSSBD WARDS 



sophic lines, men who have molded the thought 

 and lives of a multitude of persons. Among these 

 intellectual giants born within fifteen years of Mr. 

 Edwards were John Wesley, George Whitefield, 

 Swedenborg, Voltaire, Kousseau, and Hume. 



In order to appreciate the full significance of 

 Mr. Edwards' legacy to the world, it is well to 

 study some conditions of his life. It would not 

 / be easy to find a man whose surroundings and 

 training in childhood were better than those of 

 Jonathan Edwards. The parsonage on the banks 

 of the Connecticut was a delightful home. His 

 parents and his grandparents were ideal American 

 Christian educated persons. He was prepared for 

 college by his father and mother. He was a devout 

 little Christian before he was twelve years of age. 

 When he was but ten years old he, with two other 

 lads about his own age, made a booth of branches 

 in a retired spot in a neighboring wood, where the 

 three went daily for a season of prayer. 



He began the study of Latin at six and at twelve 

 had a good preparation for college in Latin, Greek, 

 and Hebrew, all of which had come from home 

 study. He not only knew books, but he knew 

 nature and loved her. From early childhood to 

 advanced years this remained true. He entered 

 Yale college at twelve years of age. In a letter 

 which he wrote while a college freshman he speaks 

 of himself as a child. Not many freshmen take 

 that view of themselves, but a lad of twelve, away 

 from home at college could have been little more 

 than a child. 



